Now why did they do that?

Yesterday in the Commons we had the unusual spectacle of the Government whipping its MPs to defeat a Ten Minute Rule bill which had cross party support. They even ordered their ministers to turn up and vote against it. All this at a time when the Economy is at something of a cross roads.

So what was this dreadful bill? It was one promoted by Mark Harper, MP for the Forest of Dean, that in future all legislation should state whether it was introduced because of a decision by the EUSSR (- otherwise known as the European Union).

Seeing that bills already have to state that they are compatible with the Human Rights Act, it is difficult to understand why this could not be extended to ensure that every bill and regulation should state on its cover its EU origin. This was in the name of transparency and accountability. You might expect that there are regular cases where the Government would be happy to pass on the responsibility and any odium to the EUSSR.

What have they got to hide? It seems that MPs do not at present know the origin of legislation they are required to vote upon. What a farce, what a triumph for anti-democracy! We know that the European Parliament rubber stamps what is put before it. Now whips have prevented MPs here from knowing the ultimate origin of bills before parliament!

Many of us are becoming increasingly alarmed at the flood of legislation from Brussels which pours over us, having come from some dark impenetrable non-democratic process. When our own Government intends us to be in the dark, even keeping MPs in ignorance, we know that we are right to be concerned.